Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, has been used in a variety of household and beauty products, including toothpaste and bath bombs, since the days of ancient Egypt. Today, it remains a common ingredient in many homemade and natural beauty products, with some sources claiming that it’s safe to use baking soda to whiten teeth. To find out if this really works, here’s what you need to know about using baking soda to whiten teeth:.
Why You Shouldn’t Use Baking Soda to Whiten Your Teeth
Many companies advertise baking soda as a simple and effective way to whiten teeth. Unfortunately, what most of them fail to mention is that it isn’t only ineffective at whitening—it can actually make your teeth more yellow.
This is because baking soda has a pH level between 8 and 10 (it gets even higher in its alkaline form), which makes it very corrosive. When you brush your teeth with baking soda, it can damage tooth enamel, making teeth appear yellow or discolored over time. In addition, its abrasiveness can also cause sensitive gums and gingivitis if used for an extended period of time without any protective measures like a fluoride rinse.
While it is safe for well-protected and normal teeth, there are too many risks associated with using baking soda around delicate areas of your mouth that simply aren’t worth taking. If you want whiter teeth instead of yellow ones, skip out on homemade recipes calling for bicarbonate of soda.
You could be harming yourself rather than helping yourself. The best thing to do if you want white teeth is to see a dentist, who will recommend other ways to brighten up those pearly whites! These methods may include brushing twice daily with hydrogen peroxide and regular visits every six months or so with professional bleaching trays made from carbamide peroxide gel mixed with oxygen bleach powder.
What are your alternatives for whiter teeth?
The good news is that you can whiten your teeth without using chemicals. Here are a few suggestions for safe home remedies:
1. Apple Cider Vinegar: Mix apple cider vinegar with water and brush using a soft-bristled toothbrush, preferably one made from plant fibers such as bamboo or resin. Brushing your teeth like this at least once a week will remove surface stains and keep your mouth free of harmful bacteria.
2. Strawberries: Rub strawberries on your teeth and leave them on for 5 minutes before rinsing off with warm water.
3. Mouthwash: There are many natural mouthwashes that help cleanse and freshen breath, including those based on mint, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, and tea tree oil.
4. Water pick (aka water flosser): By sucking water into a small handle and forcing it out through tiny holes under pressure, you can use a water pick to wash away food particles while removing plaque. Some models include tips that massage your gums as well.
Never use salt on teeth, even if it’s kosher or sea salt, because it will be abrasive enough to irritate your enamel and make its color look worse than it was prior to treatment!
DIY hacks for whiter teeth you can try at home
If you’re looking for an affordable, reliable way to brighten your smile, baking soda may be one of your best options. In addition to its many uses in cooking, it can be used as a natural teeth whitener at home, but does it work? Here’s what you need to know.
Just remember that before starting any teeth-whitening regime, be sure to speak with your dentist first. Click through for DIY hacks for whiter teeth you can try at home!
1. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush: If you want whiter teeth, then you should use a soft-bristled toothbrush instead of an electric one when brushing your teeth. The reason is that soft brushes will help scrub off more plaque and also distribute fluoride (found in most toothpastes) better than harder brushes do.
2. Try mouthwash: There are lots of mouthwashes on the market, but not all are created equal. When choosing a mouthwash to help improve bad breath or whiten teeth, make sure you look for ones containing anti-microbial compounds like chlorhexidine or benzalkonium chloride.
They’ll destroy bacteria and prevent new bad breath-causing bacteria from growing on your teeth after every wash. 3.
